Houses in Multiple Occupation amenity guidance
2.0 Washing facilities
2.1 Where all or some of the units of living accommodation in an HMO do not contain bathing and toilet facilities for the exclusive use of each individual household:
There must be an adequate number of bathrooms, toilets and wash-hand basins (suitable for personal washing) for the number of persons sharing those facilities; and where reasonably practicable there must be a wash hand basin with appropriate splash back in each unit other than a unit in which a sink has been provided, having regard to the age and character of the HMO, the size and layout of each flat and its existing provision for wash-hand basins, toilets and bathrooms.
Shower rooms may be substituted for bathrooms where appropriate.
| Number of sharing people | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 1-4 persons | No requirement for wash hand basins in sleeping rooms. At least 1 bathroom and 1 toilet (the bathroom and toilet may be combined) |
| 5 persons | 1 wash hand basin required in each sleeping room except for where a sink is provided in the room plus:
|
| 6-10 persons | 1 wash hand basin required in each sleeping room except for where a sink is provided in the room plus:
|
| 11-15 persons | 1 wash hand basin required in each sleeping room except for where a sink is provided in the room plus:
|
For Category B HMOs - Shared houses, where the property is provided with a sufficient number of toilet compartments and bathrooms which have wash hand basins installed, the Council will not require the provision of a wash hand basin in every sleeping room.
2.2 All baths, showers and wash hand basins in a HMO shall be equipped with taps providing an adequate supply of cold and constant hot water.
2.3 All bathrooms shall be suitably and adequately heated and ventilated.
2.4 All bathrooms and toilet compartments shall be of an adequate size and layout.
2.5 All baths, toilets and wash hand basins must be maintained and operate in the manner intended.
2.6 All bathrooms and toilets shall be suitably located in or in relation to the living accommodation in the HMO.
2.7 Suitably located means that there shall be bathroom and toilet facilities not more than one floor distance from the unit of accommodation it serves.
2.8 All baths, showers and wash hand basins in a HMO shall be provided with an appropriate splash back that is waterproof and easily cleanable and meet the following requirements:
- The splash back to a wash hand basin or bath shall be to all adjacent walls and be a minimum of 300mm high and extend to at least equal width of the bath/wash hand basin and all joints shall be adequately sealed.
- In the case of a shower, whether in its own compartment or over the bath, the splash back shall be to all adjacent walls and be a minimum of 150mm above the height of the showerhead and up to the edge of a fixed shower screen. Where a shower curtain is used the splash back shall extend to 300mm beyond the shower curtain. All joints shall be adequately sealed.
2.9 All above and below ground drainage shall comply with current Building Regulations.
2.10 A wash hand basin shall be provided in each separate toilet compartment, with a continuous supply of hot and cold running water.
2.11 The walls and floor of any toilet compartment and bathroom shall be reasonably smooth, non-absorbent and capable of being easily cleaned.
2.12 Hot water may be provided by any of the following methods:
- piped from boiler and storage
- immersion heater
- fixed gas appliance such as a multipoint
- instantaneous electric heaters (only to wash hand basins and electric showers) having a minimum rating of 6KW.
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